Incorporated in 1991, Zaver Petroleum Corporation Limited is the first private sector organization in Pakistan which has actively participated in oil and gas exploration and production in Pakistan.

ZPCL is actively involved in E & P activities in the North Potowar and Southern Indus Basin Blocks. ZPCL participated in exploration licenses under joint ventures with Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in Basal, Thal and Shakardara Blocks in the Potowar region. ZPCL further acquired working interests in new concession agreements in four blocks, Mehar (Sindh/Baluchistan), Mirpur Khas (Sindh), Khipro (Sindh) and Sakhi Sarwar. As a result of extensive exploration program, OGDCL/ZPCL discovered oil and gas in the Shakardara Block. Its significance marks a new era in Pakistan's history, as this is the first discovery of hydrocarbons in NWFP. Moreover OPL/ZPCL discovered oil & gas in the Khipro and Mirpurkhas Blocks and Mehar Block with Petronas Carigali. ZPCL is also a joint venture partner with OPL in East (Offshore) Indus-B. In Maharvi and Marwat Blocks, provisional License has been granted.

The Shakardara block was awarded to ZPCL, GHPL and OGDCL (Operator) in December 1994. Drilling of the first exploratory well (Chanda-1) commenced on December 03, 1998. The Chanda well located in district Lakki Marwat, was drilled to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential down to the Datta Formation of Jurassic age. A second well Chanda Deep # 1 has been drilled. It is an exploratory well located 1.84 Km east of Chanda-1. Up till now, two zones of Datta and one in Kingriali formation have been tested. Extended Production Testing was carried out for six months and consequently Chanda field was declared commercial on June 1, 2002. The pipeline has been laid and commercial oil & gas production has started since July 17, 2004.

Chanda 1 was drilled as an exploratory well. Two hydrocarbon-bearing zones have been identified. A second well Chanda Deep # 1 has also been drilled as an exploratory well. Chanda Deep-2 Well was spuded on 17 June 2005 and DST-1 were carried out (Kingriali formation-Triassic), established commercial discovery of oil.

This Block was awarded to Ocean Pakistan Limited (Formerly Orient Petroleum International, Inc.) & GHPL in December 1999. The working interest was assigned to ZPCL by OPI in October 2000. To date JV has drilled 9 exploratory wells and completed the minimum work program commitment in Khipro area. Out of 9 wells JV made three gas/condensate discoveries. Fast track commercialization was initiated and just after 6 months gas production was started from Naimat Basal and Siraj South.

This Block was awarded to Ocean Pakistan Limited (Formerly Orient Petroleum International Inc.) & GHPL in December 1999. To date 13 exploratory wells have been drilled in Mirpur Khas Block. Out of these 13 wells, Mirpur Khas JV made three gas/condensate and one oil discovery.

Mehar Petroleum Concession was signed on Dec 29, 1999. JV Partners are Petronas, Ocean Pakistan Limited (Formerly Orient Petroleum International Inc.) and ZPCL. Mehar (First Exploratory Well) was drilled down to Pab and found commercial discovery in the Pab sandstone. The appraisal well, Mehar-2, proved commercial production both in Ranikot and Pab. Currently work on the field development plan is being done.